Artist websites Q&A

Got a question about how our portfolio websites work? Find it below and click for our answer! If yours isn't listed, let us know!

Website features & services

Can I see some examples of current Foliotwist artist websites?

Absolutely! Head over to our Artist Directory where you can click through to any artist portfolio that catches your eye.

What's included in the free website trial? Are there any limitations or differences that I should know about?

There are NO limitation at all – you'll get full access to your own Foliotwist website, just like any of our PRO members. If you decide that Foliotwist isn't for you, you can walk away with no obligation.

Unlike other website services, we won't ever ask for your payment information until after your free trial is over. So there's absolutely no risk that your credit card will be billed until YOU decide to join.

You can email us at support@foliotwist.com or give us a call at 208-352-ARTS, any time.

Email support is completely free (and fast!) and general questions over the phone are always free too, so please don't hesitate to call. You'll always get a personal response from one of us (Dan or Zac) the founders of Foliotwist.

If you need more in-depth phone support, we'll schedule a time that works for you and give you a call ourselves. We do charge $20/hr for this, but if you're a PRO member you'll get one free hour per month, which may ease your mind a bit.

In general, there aren't many problems we can't solve in our own system, so no matter what your question is, we'll probably be able to help. If not, we'll explain why, and start thinking of how we can solve your problem down the road.

What happens after I sign up for the free trial?

First, we'll send you an email with your username, password, and a link to your log-in page. You can click on that link and log right into your trial website. (NOTE: If you don't see an email from us, please check your "spam" or "junk" folders.)

Once you've logged in to your Foliotwist account you can do anything that a paying Foliotwist artist can do, like upload images of your artwork, write a blog post, and customize your website (just to name a few). We made sure to include lots of tips and hints inside your account, especially the first time you log in, so you can immediately start adding your own flair to your site.

After a few days, we'll send you another email with additional information about making the most of your website, and you can implement any of our advice that you find useful.

Once your 30 days are up, we'll ask you to choose a website plan (we have a free option, as well as three paid options) but you're under no obligation to join. If you decide not to join, your art website will automatically be removed from our system within a week. If you decide you DO want to join, however, we'll include a link so you can easily sign up.

We're also available to answer ANY questions you have during your free trial or after, so please don't hesitate to email us at support@foliotwist.com and ask!

Once I've signed up, how do I log in to my Foliotwist account? Can I log in from this page?

Immediately after you sign up for your free trial we'll send you an email with your username, password, and a link to your log-in page. You can't log on to your website from this page, so make SURE to check your inbox for that email.

Keep in mind, a lot of emails get sent to spam by accident these days, so if you DON'T see that "welcome" email from us within a few minutes of signing up, please open your "spam" or "junk" folder and check for it there, too. If you still can't find it, let us know!

How does Foliotwist help promote my art on the internet?

We have three main ways that we help artists reach art buyers online:

First, all of our artists' websites are built with Search Engine Optimization in mind, which is just a fancy way of saying that we've taken care of any issues that could cause Google (or Bing, or any search engine) to STOP sending visitors your way. Our websites also automatically feature Keywords from your artwork titles, gallery titles, descriptions, etc, to make sure that the search engines really know what your website and artwork is about. This greatly improves your chances of getting visitors to your site who are truly interested in your type of art.

Second, for Standard Websites (and up) we've included several powerful tools that YOU can use to easily promote your art website on the internet. Our Email Blaster, for example, makes it easy to send out monthly, weekly, or as-they-happen updates to your friends, followers, and collectors. We've also built an effective blogging tool for artists who want to develop a following that way, as well as social media buttons for the most popular social networks (Facebook, Pinterest, etc).

Third and lastly, for our PRO members, we'll do even more to help get your artwork in front of buyers. For starters, we'll submit your online portfolio to Google's search index each day and include your website in our own artist directory. We've also created an art discovery service called "Artwork Reveal" which sends images of recent artwork from our PRO members to a wide audience of art lovers each month. AND, you'll get your own copy of "TrafficBooster: 52 Easy Ways to Attract Art Buyers to Your Website."

We're not going to sugar-coat this process... there's a lot that you'll need to do as well if you want to be successful at selling your art online. But whenever we can, we'll do our best to help!

Will people be able to find my website (and art) by searching for me in Google?

Yes! For many of our artists, it only takes a week or so after their domain goes live, but your own experience may vary.

In addition, artists who take an active role in trying to attract new visitors to their website (through social networking, search engine optimization, handing out business cards, etc) will generally have a lot more lasting success in this area than artists who don't.

What does Foliotwist do to protect my artwork from being copied or stolen once it's online?

We protect your artwork images by changing their resolution and size immediately after you upload them to your website. All images are converted to a resolution of 72 ppi and a maximum of 600 pixels wide or tall, which is an ideal size to deter thieves who are looking to print off artwork for free, while still maintaining excellent viewing quality onscreen for all of your legitimate visitors.

How will people buy my art from my website?

All of our artists' websites comes with PayPal buttons built right in, so if you have a free PayPal account, you can securely accept all traditional forms of online payment for your artwork, including every major credit card. When you type your PayPal ID (or email address) into your Foliotwist admin panel, your Foliotwist website will be linked to your PayPal account, and any artwork marked "for sale" on your website will instantly become purchasable.

Please note that while Paypal does take a small fee for any purchase made (usually 1.9% - 2.9% of the sale price) we will never take a cut of any sale you make.

Does Foliotwist help with shipping or mailing my artwork to the buyer?

No – once you make a sale from your website, you will be solely responsible for shipping your artwork to the buyer. However, PayPal will collect all of the buyer's important information (name, address, etc) and email those details to you, so you will know where to send your artwork.

Artists' domain names

Do I need to buy a domain name for my website before signing up with Foliotwist?

Nope! By signing up for our free 30-day trial you'll get to see exactly how our websites work without buying anything.

Even better, if you decide to join as a paying member, we'll buy your domain for you AND pay to renew it each year that you remain a Foliotwist member – up to 2 years for artists on the Standard Website plan, and forever for Website PRO artists!

When will my domain name be ready?

We can have your website's domain name live the same day that you join as a paying member. If you already know that you're going to sign up for a paid website plan, all you need to do is let us know what domain name you'd like and we'll do the rest.

If you choose our Totally Free plan, then you'll need to supply your own domain, but we'll do our best to get it working as quickly as possible (usually within the same day, also).

Can I get a .org or .net domain instead of .com?

In most cases, yes. We always recommend getting a .com domain for your website if possible, but if you prefer something different, we'll try to make it happen.

I already own a domain – can I use it with my Foliotwist website?

Of course! Just let us know and we'll help you get it set up!

What if I leave Foliotwist for another art website host sometime in the future? Can I still keep my domain?

Absolutely. We always hate to see artists leave, but if you have to go, we're happy to transfer your domain to you free of charge. (Keep in mind, once we transfer your domain over, you'll be responsible for paying to renew your domain each year.)

Website payments & billing

If I sign up for the free trial, will I get billed after 30 days if I forget to cancel?

No way! (We hate it when big companies do that.)

At Foliotwist you won't need to remember to cancel because we'll never ask for your billing information until AFTER the free trial period is over. Since we won't have your card information until then, there's literally no way you could be billed by accident. Hopefully this makes it easier to relax and just enjoy your art website during your free trial!

Are there ANY additional fees aside from the monthly price?

Nope – we don't charge a site setup fee, domain fee, or any other kind of fee. And when you sell your art through your website, we don't take a percentage of the sale, either.

In fact, we'll even purchase your domain for you (and pay for it for 2 years!) if you sign up for our Standard Website plan. Website PRO members get an even better deal: a free domain for life, as long as they continue to use Foliotwist as their website host.

Keep in mind that if you use PayPal, they will take a small percentage of every sale you make. It's usually 1.9% - 2.9%, though you should look at their website for the official details.

How will I be billed each month?

We use PayPal for all of our recurring billing. Once you sign up with us as a paying member, your credit or debit card will be billed automatically each month through PayPal's secure system.

If you decide to cancel, you can do that at ANY time, either from inside your account, or by calling or emailing us directly.

What happens if I want to cancel mid-month? Can I get a refund for the part of the month I haven't used?

Of course! That's the way businesses SHOULD work, right?

We never want our artists to cancel, but if you do, we'd rather you left happy. And, even if you accidentally cancel a few days after your billing date, don't sweat it. If you meant to cancel before, we'll always be happy to refund the whole thing.

"You guys are awesome!! I love the Traffic Booster guide you sent out. It really puts me in control of my own website! I can't thank you enough and I want you to know that I recommend you all the time."